mdj577

86’, 951

I am considering using dedicated rotors and pads for an open track day and installing them myself.

Alternatively I could have my mechanic install the day before and then swap the street rotors/pads back on the next day.

Never changed either before. Trying to determine if it’s worth it for me to tackle this myself.

How difficult is this for a relatively handy novice?

Also, any advice on affordable pads for track use?


Thanks

Jon951

Changing pads - no big deal
Changing rotars - way too much hassle for a track day

Pagid blue or black pads are fine as are Hawks

Tip - When you come in off the track, do not sit still with your brakes on. The rotars can be very hot and your pads and calipers can cool them in one spot, thus warping the rotars

PCA instructor, racing 15+ years

Jon951

Note: rotar is the southern spelling

David Floyd

For me stock pads and rotors worked fine for my first couple DE's, fresh brake fluid is a must imho
Have fun!

Jason @ Paragon Products

Agree with Jon951, if you need rotors, change them, if not just swap out pads. Cheap and good don't go together for track pads. I'd use something affordable for street pads and swap in your track pads before your track weekends. I'd suggest either the Pagid RS14 Black compound or RS29 yellow compound.

Paul Waterloo

Bleeding brakes is a MUST:

http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articl...rakebleed.html

Changing the pads is simple, very similar to this:

http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articl...tbrakesS8.html

mdj577

Thanks to all.

Looking forward to learning some theory as well as getting to know the car better. It is going to be novice day which is right in line with my experience.

Next I need to buy a helmet!

Paul- Brake bleed is on the list. I assume you mean before going to track?

Jason- I am e-mailing you about pads.

rlm328

Use the pads you have on the car. Brake pads are a wear item. The only reason you would want to change out your pads is if they are about worn out. The main reason for going to a track pad is due to brake fade, which is caused by heat from coming to harder than normal braking. If this is your first DE I doubt very seriously if you are going to get your brakes that hot.

Bleed them and enjoy.

Jon951

+1

CO951

Good street pads are all you need for your first few events.
I personally got too lazy to change my pads all the time, so after going to racing pads (Pagid RS29 yellow) I just use them all the time. Never had problems with them not working in the cold, down to a little below freezing. They are crazy loud with light braking though.

Have fun!

ekoz

+1

When it's time to change pads and or rotors I recommend doing it yourself. Learning about the car is all part of the DE experience IMO If you decide to continue with DE's. Doing work yourself becomes essential. Nobody cares about your car more than you and this site pretty much covers every conceivable problem you could run into. Have a good time!

Turbodan

if rotors are too thin change them and leave them on the car. as others have said stock street pads should be fine for first time out. pads are easy to change. You should have a high temp brake fluid and you may want to change out your oil before going on track as well. you will have fun these cars are great on track.

mdj577

Great. I got some Pagid RS14 pads. Perhaps I will use my current pads until they wear down and install the Pagids. From what was said above they are appropriate for street use as well.

Definitely going to bleed the fluid myself. Tutorials looked quite straight forward.

Very much looking forward to time on the track.

jmj951

Depending on the track, you might use the brakes a LOT. Also, the tendency for drivers that are new to the track is to use the brakes much more than necessary. Most of the good advice has been posted - flush with new high-temp fluid (the best you can buy), during which you'll obviously bleed the brakes (use a high pressure bleeder and follow standard bleeding procedures). Have a separate set of pads for track and street as stated, and I would recommend going one step further - install a brake cooling kit, such as the one available from Lindsey racing. You might not need the brake cooling kit until you start pushing the car closer to its limits, but depending on how fast you learn, you might get to that point with your third or fourth track day (or you might end up in a crowded run group that doesn't offer much opportunity to push the car constantly, lap after lap).